Dreyer was speaking to the companions of the injured one, explaining that it was impossible to save the life of the aged man.
The response of the rebellious one was an almost savage growl in his throat. He spoke then more softly to the injured one, as if explaining. The serene countenance did not change, but the eyes closed quietly, and the Earthmen knew that he was dead.
Swiftly, the rebellious one drew a knife of glass from a sheath and slashed with careless skill at the corpse. He extracted one of the alien organs and placed it in a container which he carried. With no other word, he left, and the two women followed sorrowfully and more slowly. They refused to speak further.
Underwood watched them go. "We seem to have gained a corpse," he said. "Get a couple of the men to take it out and bury it, will you, Terry? I wonder what the whole thing means, anyway. Are these remnants of Sirenian culture?"
His speculations were suddenly interrupted by the blaring of the interphone. "Doctor Underwood, lookout reports entire Terrestrian fleet departing from the Dragboran planet!"
The group in surgery looked at each other in sudden silence.
"It doesn't make sense," Terry said finally.
"It does," said Underwood slowly. "If they have found and destroyed what we hoped to find."
"Also if they wanted to draw us out of hiding," added Dreyer.